Gurjas Insights
Dated, source-linked articles on research integrity, doctoral method and evidence-led policy.
https://gurjas.org/insights/
2026-08-04T00:00:00Z
Gurjas Evidence and Policy Analyticshttps://gurjas.org/
© Gurjas Evidence and Policy Analytics
When the PhD shortcut becomes the longest route
https://gurjas.org/insights/phd-shortcut-longest-route/
2026-07-14T00:00:00Z
2026-07-15T00:00:00Z
Why weak research design, unverifiable data and rushed publication promises can turn a PhD shortcut into a costly recovery project, and what an ethical recovery requires.
UGC Suggestive Parameters: Eight Criteria and 35 Final Checks Explained
https://gurjas.org/insights/ugc-suggestive-parameters-explained/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-31T00:00:00Z
A primary-source explanation of the UGC Suggestive Parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals, including the eight criteria, 35 final checks and the difference from the earlier 36-item draft.
Scopus vs Web of Science vs ABDC: Which One Matters for You?
https://gurjas.org/insights/scopus-wos-abdc-compared/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
A clear comparison of Scopus, the Web of Science Core Collection and the ABDC Journal Quality List — what each is, how they differ, and which matters for a given field and institution.
The Scopus Publication Guide for Indian and International Researchers
https://gurjas.org/insights/scopus-publication-guide/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
A complete 2026 guide to publishing in a Scopus-indexed journal: choosing and verifying a journal, CiteScore and quartiles, APCs, realistic timelines and an ethical submission workflow, for Indian and international researchers.
Do You Still Need to Publish for a PhD in India in 2026?
https://gurjas.org/insights/phd-publication-requirement-india-2026/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
What the UGC 2022 PhD regulations say about mandatory publication, why institutions may still require it, and how to decide where and whether to publish during your doctorate.
NAAC 2025 Reforms: The Binary and MBGL Guide for IQAC Teams
https://gurjas.org/insights/naac-2025-reforms/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
A practical guide to NAAC's move from graded accreditation to a binary system and Maturity-Based Graded Levels, the assessment process, the role of research output, and a readiness checklist for IQAC teams.
CiteScore Quartiles Explained: Which Is Best—Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4?
https://gurjas.org/insights/journal-quartiles-citescore/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-31T00:00:00Z
A direct, source-led explanation of CiteScore quartiles Q1 to Q4, how they differ from SJR and the Journal Impact Factor, and how to verify a journal without being misled.
DOAJ, COPE and OASPA: What Each Membership Actually Guarantees
https://gurjas.org/insights/doaj-cope-oaspa-memberships/
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
2026-07-12T00:00:00Z
What a DOAJ listing, a COPE membership and an OASPA membership each certify about a journal, their limits, and how to verify a claimed membership at the source.
UGC-CARE List Discontinued in 2025: Official Status and 2026 Publishing Guide
https://gurjas.org/insights/ugc-care-discontinued/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-07-31T00:00:00Z
A source-led guide to the discontinuation of the UGC-CARE list, the frozen reference list, the Suggestive Parameters and the journal checks researchers and institutions should make.
You Published in a Predatory Journal: What to Do Now
https://gurjas.org/insights/published-in-predatory-journal-what-to-do/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
A calm, practical guide to your rights and options after publishing in a predatory or hijacked journal, with the right first move and the mistakes to avoid.
How to Identify a Predatory or Cloned Journal: The Complete 2026 Guide
https://gurjas.org/insights/how-to-identify-a-predatory-journal/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-08-04T00:00:00Z
A comprehensive 2026 guide to identifying predatory and hijacked (cloned) journals using free, public checks of indexing, provenance and conduct — for Indian and international researchers.
Fake Impact Factors: The Metrics That Are Real and the Ones That Aren't
https://gurjas.org/insights/fake-impact-factors/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
How to tell a real journal metric from a manufactured one: the recognised metrics from Clarivate and Elsevier, why fake 'impact factors' exist, and a simple test to expose them.
Cloned and Hijacked Journals: How the Scam Works and How to Spot It
https://gurjas.org/insights/cloned-hijacked-journals/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
How hijacked (cloned) journals impersonate legitimate titles, why they defeat naive checks, and a step-by-step method to expose them using free public records.
Can a Scopus-Indexed Journal Still Be Predatory?
https://gurjas.org/insights/can-a-scopus-journal-be-predatory/
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
2026-07-11T00:00:00Z
Why Scopus indexing is a strong but not absolute safeguard, how journals get discontinued from the index, and how to confirm a journal's current status before submitting.
The UGC-CARE list is gone. Here is how to verify a journal in 2026.
https://gurjas.org/insights/verify-a-journal-2026/
2026-07-07T00:00:00Z
2026-08-04T00:00:00Z
India's UGC-CARE list was discontinued in 2025. A practical, current guide to checking whether a journal is legitimate using Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ and OpenAlex.
NAAC just changed the rules: what binary accreditation and MBGL mean for your IQAC
https://gurjas.org/insights/naac-binary-mbgl-2026/
2026-07-07T00:00:00Z
2026-08-04T00:00:00Z
NAAC is transitioning from letter-grade accreditation toward binary basic accreditation, while maturity-level and data-verification details remain subject to current official manuals.
What 500 households in India's urban slums taught us about digital money
https://gurjas.org/insights/digital-money-urban-slums/
2026-07-07T00:00:00Z
2026-07-07T00:00:00Z
Plain-language findings from large-scale fieldwork across Indian urban slums on e-payment adoption, the JAM trinity and why access to digital finance does not automatically become capability.